With final three females released, Bellator issues statement on women's division

Bellator MMA hasn’t officially dissolved its women’s division. But with no women left on its roster, there may not be a home for those fighters in the promotion any time soon.

Word got out on Tuesday that Jessica Eye (10-1) had been let go by Bellator, and Tuesday also saw an announcement from all-female promotion Invicta Fighting Championship that former Bellator fighter Felice Herrig (9-4) had signed. Jessica Aguilar (15-4) most recently fought for Bellator in March.

Those three were the last remaining women on Bellator’s roster, and on Tuesday night promotion CEO Bjorn Rebney issued a statement on the state of the California-based company’s women’s division.

“Jessica Eye, Jessica Aguilar and Felice represent all that is good in women’s MMA,” Rebney stated. “Both Eye and Aguilar are ranked No. 1 in the world in their respective divisions and carry themselves with class and distinction elevating the women’s game. I’ve said many times that fighters need to fight and fight often. Given our current focus, we are not in position to provide these very deserving women regular and reoccurring fights on a large platform. And, I felt it was best to let them go and secure options that did. I genuinely wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors and will be rooting for each of them wherever they fight.”

For Herrig, a strawweight, that opportunity will now come with Invicta. Aguilar, who went 5-1 as a strawweight for Bellator, and is on a six-fight win streak, may have to look Invicta’s direction, as well. Following her release, she said from her official Twitter account that she’s “excited for whats (sic) to come.” Eye, who has won seven straight and went 3-0 for Bellator, could be looking the UFC’s way. Currently, that promotion features just one women’s division – 135 pounds.

The UFC introduced its first women’s division in February when bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey submitted Liz Carmouche. She’ll defend her title for the second time in December against the woman she took the belt from in Strikeforce, Miesha Tate.

The UFC has not yet announced plans to add other women’s divisions outside of bantamweight, which leaves fighters at the most common women’s divisions of 105, 115, 125 and 145 pounds left to look for work elsewhere – with many finding regular fights for Invicta.

For more on the future homes of Eye and Aguilar, stay tuned to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

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